Three-dimensional image display device and driving method thereof

Abstract

A 3D image display device is provided. The 3D image display device includes a display panel, a filter, a filter driver and a timing controller. The filter is disposed at a front surface of the display panel and comprises a light transmitting area for transmitting an images and a light blocking area for blocking an images. The timing controller converts a received 3D image into a copied 3D image, outputs the copied 3D image through the display panel in units of a frame, and controls the filter driver for switching between a position of the light transmitting area and a position of the light blocking area in units of a frame.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A three-dimensional (3D) image display device, comprising:
 a display panel outputting at least one image by using at least one copied 3D image; 
 a filter disposed at a front surface of the display panel, and comprising a light transmitting area for transmitting the images and a light blocking area for blocking the images; 
 a filter driver switching between a position of the light transmitting area and a position of the light blocking area; and 
 a timing controller converting a received 3D image into the copied 3D image, outputting the copied 3D image through the display panel in units of a frame, 
 wherein the timing controller converts the received 3D image into two copied 3D images which have the same images, and outputs a first copied 3D image of the two copied 3D images during a first frame and outputs a second copied 3D image of the two copied 3D images during a second frame through the display panel, 
 wherein the timing controller controls the filter driver to switch between the position of the light transmitting area and the light blocking area in units of a frame, 
 wherein a plurality of pixels configure one pixel area, the plurality of pixels including a first pixel and a second pixel, and the first pixel and the second pixel being immediately adjacent pixels, 
 wherein the filter driver switches between the light transmitting area and the light blocking area, thereby allowing the first pixel, being an odd right-eye pixel during the first frame, to be an even left-eye pixel during the second frame and allowing the second pixel, being an odd left-eye image during the first frame, to be an even right-eye pixel during the second frame, 
 wherein, during the first frame, an image from the odd right-eye pixel and an image from the odd left-eye pixel are transferred by the light transmitting area, and 
 wherein, during the second frame, an image from the even left-eye pixel and an image from the even right-eye pixel are transferred by the light transmitting area. 
 
     
     
       2. The 3D image display device of  claim 1 , wherein,
 the timing controller generates the copied 3D image by using the received 3D image, and drives the copied 3D image at an output driving frequency to output the copied 3D image through the display panel, and 
 the output driving frequency is a multiple of an input driving frequency at which the received 3D image is driven, and the multiple is equal to the number of the copied 3D image. 
 
     
     
       3. The 3D image display device of  claim 1 , further comprising a backlight unit irradiating light onto a liquid crystal panel when the display panel is the liquid crystal display panel,
 wherein the timing controller controls a light driver of the backlight unit such that a light source of the backlight unit does not emit light when the light transmitting area and the light blocking area are being switched in a disposed position. 
 
     
     
       4. A driving method of a three-dimensional (3D) image display device, the driving method comprising:
 converting a received 3D image into at least one copied 3D image; and 
 outputting the copied 3D image through a display panel in units of a frame, and switching between a position of the light transmitting area and a position of the light blocking area in units of a frame, the light transmitting area and the light blocking area being formed in a filter disposed at a front surface of the display panel, 
 wherein the switching of the position of the light transmitting area and the position of the light blocking area is performed for a blank time between frames, and the display panel does not output an image for the blank time, 
 wherein a plurality of pixels configure one pixel area, the plurality of pixels including a first pixel and a second pixel, and the first pixel and the second pixel being immediately adjacent pixels, 
 wherein the switching of the position of the light transmitting area and the position of the light blocking area allows the first pixel, being an odd right-eye pixel during the first frame, to be an even left-eye pixel during the second frame and allowing the second pixel, being an odd left-eye image during the first frame, to be an even right-eye pixel during the second frame, 
 wherein, during the first frame, an image from the odd right-eye pixel and an image from the odd left-eye pixel are transferred by the light transmitting area, and 
 wherein, during the second frame, an image from the even left-eye pixel and an image from the even right-eye pixel are transferred by the light transmitting area. 
 
     
     
       5. The driving method of  claim 4 , wherein,
 the outputting of the copied 3D image comprises driving the copied 3D image at an output driving frequency, and outputting the copied 3D image through the display panel, the copied 3D image being generated by using the received 3D image; and 
 the output driving frequency is a multiple of an input driving frequency at which the received 3D image is driven, and the multiple is equal to the number of the copied 3D image. 
 
     
     
       6. The driving method of  claim 5 , wherein,
 the converting of a received 3D image comprises converting the received 3D image into two received 3D images having different images; 
 the outputting of the copied 3D image comprises outputting a first copied 3D image of the two copied 3D images during a first frame through the display panel, and outputting a second copied 3D image of the two copied 3D images during a second frame through the display panel, and 
 by switching between the light transmitting area and the light blocking area, a position of the light transmitting area in the second frame differs from a position of the light transmitting area in the first frame, and a position of the light blocking area in the second frame differs from a position of the light blocking area in the first frame.